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New Life, Moving Forward

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind to lay hold of that in front of me, I press on toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

The Christian life is a new life in Christ that is always moving forward. Think of running a race, your focus is on what is ahead, not on what is behind. For what good does it do to dwell on how you started late or that you stumbled a lap ago? It does absolutely no good, but you forget what lies behind so to lay hold of what is ahead, pressing on toward the mark (the goal, the finish line) to the extent of the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus.

Not that I have already obtained this or already reached the goal, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (Philippians 3:12)

I am running a race, which takes mental and physical discipline. I press on to reach a goal, to lay hold of something, to make it my own. What is Paul's motivation for running this race? "Because Christ Jesus has made me his own." The word for "made me his own" is καταλαμβάνω (katalambanō) to lay hold of, grasp; to obtain, attain; to comprehend, apprehend; mid. to understand, perceive. Paul says he presses on because Christ has laid hold and taken possession of him. A way to picture this is the runner has his "trainer" with him, assisting, encouraging, motivating him to move forward. In an official earthly race, this would be illegitimate assistance, but we have a teacher and helper, the Spirit of Christ in us and our race has an eternal purpose, with such a great cloud of witnesses.

... their minds are on earthly things. For our community belongs in heaven from there we eagerly await a savior, Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly bodies to the likeness of his glorious body according to the power that is also powerful to subject all to himself. (Philippians 3:19-20)

The goal, the finish line that Paul is pressing onto, the mark of the upward call in Christ, is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and we see why Paul says he has not already nor will attain it until the race is finished, because of our lowly bodies. "now, not only this we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." (Romans 8:23) We are blessed with adoption in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3-5) We are marked with the Holy Spirit of promise, chosen, predestined, to run this race, until God takes possession of His own. (Ephesians 1:13-14) Then He will "transform our lowly bodies to the likeness of his glorious body according to the power that also powerful to subject all to himself." Oh, this is the power that motivates Paul to run the race, and that which Paul prays we would be enlightened to, and it is why Christ was made head of the Church so that we are being filled all in all in Him. (Ephesians 1:15-23) God purposed in Christ for us a new life, to be conformed to His image to the full stature of His likeness. (Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:28-31; Ephesians 4:13) We experience life in this mortal body here on earth though we will not fully be known until we receive our glorious body, putting on immortality.

I regard existing loss through the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, through whom all also regards refuse in order to gain Christ... (Philippians 3:8-11)

Running the race is an upward call, as Christ has taken hold of us. We run to gain Christ, we run some more to gain more of Christ, we stretch, reach, move forward to gain Christ. Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses, others who have run the race before us, and those alongside us, even the spectators, we put aside all impediments and sin that can so easily weigh us down and forget what lies behind and look ahead, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame. (Hebrews 12:1-5) Consider Him so we do not lose heart, you have not resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin, and have you forgotten the word of encouragement that speaks to you as sons? my son, do not regard lightly the training up of the Lord nor lose heart when proven under him.(Hebrews 12:3-5)

... in order to gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the Law, rather through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based upon faith, that I know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like him in death, if somehow to arrive at the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:8-11)

Moving forward, pressing on, counting all else as loss in order to know and gain Christ and to arrive at the resurrection from the dead. The way is narrow, it is a path of becoming like him in death, "as it is written for your sake we face death all day long regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." (Romans 8:36) But He has taken hold of us thus who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, shall the narrow way, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? (Romans 8:35) Taken hold of, we press on, reaching forward to the finish, and a most glorious prize. "no, in all these things we are winning a most glorious victory in him who loved us."(Romans 8:37)

Glorious Unfolding






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